STEWARDSHIP news A publication of Audubon International Volume 5, Issue 6 • November/December 2002
Striving for Sustainability
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The summit brought together more than 100 heads of State and Government, plus an estimated 65,000 national delegates and leaders from non-governmental organizations, businesses, and other major groups. Though Audubon International was unable to attend, its environmental stewardship and sustainable community programs were accredited with the United Nations and the Johannesburg 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The accreditation recognizes our work to improve the quality of life and the environment via sustainable actions.
Talking the talk As with the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, broad principles were agreed upon, while delegates dissented on how to implement them. Controversy reigned—this time about the role the United States played in blocking the adoption of several key measures and about whether the summit resolutions were swift and strong enough. Despite the arguments, the summit led to the adoption of two important documents: the Johannesburg Declaration and the Plan of Implementation (http://www.johannesburg summit.org). The declaration calls on summit participants to take resolute action in the areas of water, energy, and the acceptance of a new code of ethics for sustainable development. The plan contains targets and timetables to spur action. (continued on page 2)
What is sustainable development?
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he most widely used definition of sustainable development comes from the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Broadly, sustainability means integrating and balancing economic, social, and environmental concerns in meeting our needs in order to continue all life on the planet, including human life. More specifically, achieving this kind of integration and balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions requires new ways of looking at how we produce and consume, how we live, how we work, how we get along with each other, and how we make decisions (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development).
K. Fletcher
hen the World Summit on Sustainable Development convened in South Africa in early September, the word sustainability was broadcast into millions of households around the globe. For a brief 10 days, the world turned its attention to the need to improve the lives of people living in poverty and reverse the degradation of the global environment. Participants at Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Summit toured several certified Gold and Silver Signature sites and discussed ways to collaborate on sustainable community initiatives.
Audubon International Hosts Sustainable Communities Summit
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hile leaders were meeting in Johannesburg, Audubon International hosted a two-day summit in Naples, Florida to explore ways to further its sustainable communities campaign. A select group of representatives from several universities, community planning organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies explored ways to combine resources and expertise and enable more communities to participate in sustainable community initiatives. The summit featured tours of five sites certified in the Audubon Signature Program, including two Gold Signature projects (Sustainable Development) and two Silver Signature projects (Resource Management and Education sites). The site visits provided concrete examples of what Audubon International is trying to accomplish by working with developers and community planners. WCI Communities and the Bonita Bay Group—both long-time collaborators with Audubon International—helped host the events. The summit resulted in an agreement in principle among the guests to participate in a Sustainable Communities Partnership and in the eventual creation of a National Center for Sustainable Communities. The partnership is being coordinated by Audubon International and North Carolina State University’s Office of Extension and Engagement (NCSU) in Raleigh, North Carolina. (continued on page 2)
Vision Sustaining the Quality of the Environment Must Be a Priority
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n a recent cartoon in The New Yorker, a group of employees sit around a conference table—picture your typical staff meeting—and the caption reads, “If we’re going to prioritize, we’re going to need some priorities.” How often do we set a list of tasks, without first envisioning where we want to go? Unfortunately, this isn’t just common at work, but on a personal and community level as well. Let’s face it, everyone’s busy. Everyone’s juggling work, family, social, and civic responsibilities. But every now and then, we’ve got to stop what we’re doing and figure out what’s important to us. Then, if we’re not on a path that leads in that direction, we can change course. At Audubon International, sustaining the quality of our environment, instead of continually depleting the resources and landscapes that support life, is central to our vision for a future that is better than it is today. Our priority is to help people help the environment so that the places we live—our households, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and communities— are healthy, thriving, and sustainable. We thank you for working collaboratively with us to realize this vision. Your efforts to protect water quality, use resources efficiently, reduce waste, and maintain natural areas are critical to our collective success. Sustaining the quality of the environment must remain among our highest priorities. Consider taking steps to reach beyond your own property and encourage neighbors, colleagues, and community leaders to become actively engaged in environmental stewardship. Your leadership can make a key difference in reaching a sustainable future.
Jean Mackay Director of Educational Services
Striving for Sustainability (continued from page 1)
Walking the walk Now that the talk has ended, the on-theground, day-to-day work resumes. For Audubon International, this entails bringing our efforts to promote sound environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management to an increasing number of individuals and communities through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System and Sustainable Communities Program. At a local level, we can have the greatest positive
impact on the places we live and work and the landscapes we know best. Audubon International’s “grass roots” approach is designed to involve a variety of properties within a community with the ultimate goal of involving the whole community—homeowners, businesses, schools, and municipal and recreational areas—in taking stewardship action. With the investment, ingenuity, and perseverance of individuals working to better their own properties and communities, we will set the stage for long lasting stewardship and sustainability.
Audubon International Hosts Sustainable Communities Summit Participants of the Sustainable Communities Summit (from left to right): Kraig Marquis, Audubon International; Terry Dolan, WCI; Rick Maurer, University of Kentucky; Bo Beaulieu, Director, Southern Rural Development Center, Mississippi State University; Steve Jones, Vice Chancellor, NCSU Extension and Engagement; Tommy Roberson, Mayor of Williamston, NC; Shelly Foy, Audubon International Board Member and USGA Green Section; Charles Vavrina, Professor, Univ. of Florida Southwest Florida Research & Education Center; Mo Erkins, Sustainable Communities Coordinator, Eufaula, AL; Howard Jack, VP/COO, Audubon International; Michael Washburn, Director of Forest Certification Program, Yale University; Jon Ort, Assistant Vice Chancellor & Director, NCSU Extension & Engagement; Mike Davis, Assistant Vice Chancellor, NCSU Cooperative Extension Service; Jessyna McDonald, Associate Dean, Public Service & Community Development, Clemson University; John Stanturf, Project Leader, U.S. Forest Service; David Hays, Special Assistant, H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Development Institute, NCSU; Ron Dodson, President, Audubon International; and Kevin Fletcher, Director of Programs, Audubon International (not shown).
(continued from page 1) “What we’ve learned from our pilot project in Eufaula, Alabama (see page 6) is that collaboration is key to the success of community-wide projects,” said Ron Dodson, President of Audubon International. “A National Center for Sustainable Communities at NCSU, along with the involvement and commitment of other university partners, will enable us to work with the increasing number of communities that have expressed interest in sustainable community planning.” “There are over 3,000 counties in the U.S. and there’s an extension service staffer in each of those counties. The goal of NCSU and Audubon International is to eventually have a sustainable community project in every county throughout the country,” stated Steve Jones, Vice Chancellor, NCSU Extension and Engagement. Audubon 2
International and NCSU have been working to form the National Center for Sustainable Communities over the last year, and have begun working with the city of Williamston, North Carolina as the second city enrolled in the Sustainable Communities Program. Audubon International thanks the staff of each site visited during the tour for sharing their experiences as members of Audubon International certification programs—Old Collier Golf Club, WCI Raptor Bay Golf Club, The Club at Mediterra, Bonita Bay Club East and The Club at TwinEagles, and WCI SunCity Center. To find out more about Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program or the proposed National Center for Sustainable Communities, please contact Mary Jack at (518) 767-9051, extension 19.
K. Fletcher
Audubon International
Community Level Strategic Planning and Sustainable Community Initiatives Site Level Environmentally-sensitive Development and Management Individual Level Stewardship Action
Audubon International Receives 2002 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Award
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udubon International is honored to announce that it is among the recipients of the 2002 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Awards (MVP2) from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. The Roundtable is the largest membership organization in the United States devoted solely to pollution prevention (P2). Audubon International achieved the MVP2 Overall Award for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. “There were nearly three times as many applications this year. All of the award winners should feel proud that their project rose to the top of the group,” stated Natalie Roy, Executive Director for the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Roy praised the efforts of Audubon International stating, “I loved this project. Audubon International’s success with preventing pollution through private land managers, and golf courses specifically, is a wonderful addition to the list of this year’s winners.” Director of Programs and Administration Kevin Fletcher accepted the award in a ceremony at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. on September 18. Federal Environmental Executive John Howard and Charles M. Auer, Director of EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics, assisted NPPR with presenting the awards. “It’s an honor to have the Roundtable recognize our efforts and to have such prestigious judges—from Environmental Defense, Los Alamos National Labs, USEPA, state-based DEPs, and others—choose Audubon International as an MVP2 Award recipient,” stated Fletcher. “But most of all, it’s an honor to have thousands of members and volunteers dedicate themselves to preventing pollution on their properties. They are the ones who have really earned this award.” The mission of the Roundtable is to provide a national
Kevin Fletcher accepts the 2002 MVP2 Award from Charles Auer, Director of EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (left), Sharon Baxter, NPPR Board Member, and John Howard, Federal Environmental Executive (right).
forum for promoting the development, implementation, and evaluation of efforts to avoid, eliminate, or reduce pollution at the source. The organization’s members are composed of the country’s preeminent P2 experts from regional P2 resource centers, state and local government P2 programs, small business assistance networks, non-profit groups, industry associations, and federal agencies. 3
BY DESIGN
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ndividual action is the first step toward a more sustainable future. But Audubon International’s ultimate goal is take individual action to a higher level by engaging entire communities. In this way, we can maximize the benefits of our efforts to improve the quality of the environment in the communities in which we live. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, Audubon Signature Program, and Sustainable Communities Program engage people at various points along a continuum from individual stewardship action to property level environmental management to community-wide involvement.
sustainable
From Individual Action to Community-wide Initiatives Audubon International’s Model for Achieving Sustainability
ACTION
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From One…To Many
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here is much we can do personally to improve and protect the environment where we live. Yet the impact of our individual actions can make a far greater difference when multiplied by the involvement of many. We can create a more sustainable future when we extend environmental stewardship from household to neighborhood, neighborhood to community, and community to region and nation.
Spread the word Consider ways to extend your involvement in good environmental stewardship right where you live. Get family members involved, and then invite neighbors to take action. If you are part of a homeowner’s association or share common green space with neighbors, initiate projects, such as improved native landscaping or water conservation, to extend your care of the local environment. Further spread the word— and action—to local schools, businesses, civic organizations, and town or city government.
10 Ways to Take Action 1. Share your success. Talk with family and friends about your participation in environmental stewardship. Pass on this newsletter and encourage others to get involved.
2. Encourage colleagues to participate. Communicate with your colleagues about the potential benefits of their involvement. Some ways to spark interest include: hosting a reception or gathering, writing a letter, or offering a property tour to show your actions and results. Offer to conduct site visits or give a talk about Audubon International and the ACSP program to other golf courses, businesses, or schools.
3. Ask your local homeowners or neighborhood association to join you. If you are part of a neighborhood association or residential community, use that organization to help you spread the word about what homeowners can do to protect the environment. Select one or two projects—mounting nest boxes, planting trees, developing landscape guidelines—to kick off your efforts.
Innsbrook Resort in Innsbrook, Missouri, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary resort, educates patrons about environmental stewardship via brochures, displays, and events. Such efforts encourage others to get involved.
4. Help out! Offer to serve on a new member’s Resource Advisory Group as a way to mentor them through the certification process.
James Sua
5. Vote with your dollars. National Service Resort & Country Club, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in Singapore, took its environmental stewardship efforts beyond the golf course by organizing a local beach clean up. Plastic bottles and cans collected were sent for recycling. 4
Where you spend your money makes a difference. Purchase locally-grown and produced products, and recycled goods when possible. Patronizing local producers strengthens community connections and supports those with a local interest in protecting natural resources.
ACTION
take The Resort at the Mountain, OR
Certified ACSP member The Resort at the Mountain in Welches, Oregon, partnered with Wolftree’s RiverKeeper, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, and others to restore fish habitat for native Coho salmon in the Wee Burn, a tributary of the Salmon River that runs through the resort’s golf course. The project exemplifies the benefits of getting community members involved in environmental stewardship.
6. Take your enthusiasm to school. Offer to help your local school get involved in environmental stewardship. There are many good environmental improvement programs, including the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Schools.
7. Get involved in or organize community projects. There are plenty of environmental projects that communities need done. From stream monitoring and clean up to tree planting and beautification projects, choose a project that suits your interests and your community’s needs. Local groups, including land trusts, watershed protection groups, and nature centers are always in need of volunteers.
8. Participate in town planning. Voice your concern for conservation at town planning and zoning meetings. Get involved proactively, not just when projects are proposed that you’d like the town to oppose.
9. Protect local natural assets.
Cherry Creek Golf Club, PA
Look at a map of your town and identify natural resources, open space, agricultural areas, and land features that make your area unique. Work with local citizen groups, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to protect what’s most valuable.
10. Create connections. To thrive, wildlife species need connected corridors of habitat—woods, wetlands, grasslands, water sources— to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, water, and reproductive sites. The more properties in your community that offer some habitat and the more connected these areas are to large natural areas, the greater the benefit will be.
Even simple projects, like nest box construction, can be used to broaden involvement in conservation efforts. Certified ACSP member Cherry Creek Golf Club in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, enlisted the help of students with mental and physical disabilities to construct and mount their nest boxes. 5
D
rive approximately two and a half hours southwest of Atlanta, to the shores Lake Eufaula on the Chattahoochee River, and you’ll arrive in the city of Eufaula, Alabama, population 15,000. In many respects, Eufaula looks a lot like other southern towns—its large historic district is the centerpiece of downtown, while sprawl-type commercial zones, residential suburbs, agricultural fields, and industries spread outward.
Eufaula has the same environmental issues that face every other community in the United States. Its citizens generate waste, use energy, and build houses; they need good jobs and want young people to have opportunities to stay in Eufaula when they grow up. They want to live in a safe, clean, attractive, economically vibrant city.
Eufaula as a model Eufaula’s concern for the future of the community made it the perfect place to pilot the Sustainable Communities Program. Though Eufaula is a small city by many comparisons, it can be held up as a model of what many communities face in today’s pressures for economic growth, regional development, and social equity. Since 1997, when Audubon International President Ronald Dodson was first invited to Eufaula, Audubon International has been assisting city government officials, citizens, businesses, and civic organizations chart Eufaula’s future. Now known as Eufaula 2020, the initiative is the community’s way of envisioning and planning for its future, using Audubon International’s The Eufaula City Hall showcases a variety of environmental stewardship practices to encourage comPrinciples for Sustainable Resource munity-wide involvement. Management as a guide. “Our work with Audubon International has galvanized commu- talk,” says Neil Yarbrough, City Horticulturist and co-chair nity awareness, action, and strategic planning,” states Eufaula’s of the Eufaula 2020 steering committee. “We are constantly Mayor Jay Jaxon. “It has helped us chart a course toward a getting positive feedback from citizens and employees.” More important, the demonstration site at city hall has served future that capitalizes on the best of what Eufaula offers, while the purpose for which it is intended: community involvement. addressing community problems and needs.” “The success of the projects we have done over the past few years has been beyond our expectations,” explains Yarbrough. “All three of our elementary schools have become certified in the ACSP, numerous homeowners have joined the backyard On October 10, 2002, Audubon International recognized program, and several businesses are involved. But without a the City of Eufaula as the first Certified Audubon Cooperative doubt the biggest success has been our city leaders’ desire to Sanctuary Community—the first step in the Sustainable Com- have the whole city become a certified community.” munities Program. The designation is the result of Eufaula’s efforts since 1997 to develop a demonstration site at City Hall and involve its citizens in sustainable community initiatives. Environmental practices showcased on the approximately one In 2001, Eufaula formed a partnership among Audubon acre City Hall site include native landscaping, waste reduction, International, Auburn University, Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood, energy and water conservation, and community education. “Our involvement at city hall demonstrates to Eufaula’s cit- Inc., and the City to create a strategic plan. The document is izens that the city is walking the walk and not just talking the the culmination of countless community meetings, focus group R. Dodson
CASE STUDY
environmental
Eufaula, Alabama—Planning for the
City Hall recognized for environmental stewardship
Community input culminates in strategic plan
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During one of many community meetings, Eufaula Mayor Jay Jaxon explains how “economy,” “ecology,” and “social equity” come together in sustainable communities.
Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program
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he Sustainable Communities Program is an education program designed to help people appreciate the unique environmental, social, and economic characteristics of their community, and work to protect and enhance them through citizen-driven planning and community action. Audubon International serves as a catalyst for action and works to facilitate partnerships with governmental agencies, academic institutions, and other environmental organizations that might provide support and assistance.
Stages of Involvement Stage I: Community Outreach, Education, and Involvement The municipality works with Audubon International to educate citizens and organize community involvement. It assesses its resources and develops a community-wide environmental plan designed to build awareness and engage a broad spectrum of people in stewardship action. The centerpiece of this effort is the development of a demonstration center at city hall or another central location to showcase environmental stewardship efforts. At the completion of this stage, the community is recognized as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Community.
Stage II: Strategic Planning After Stage I, the community may choose to develop a strategic plan as a way to direct future policy. A strategic planning steering committee is formed to host town meetings, form focus groups, and conduct surveys to gain community-wide input toward developing a vision statement and goals that integrate the community’s environmental, economic, and social priorities. These goals form the basis for a strategic plan. Audubon International confers an Audubon Sustainable Community Award to the community upon adoption of the plan by municipal leaders.
Stage III: Implementation of the Strategic Plan During this final stage, the municipality creates an organization and a process to implement the strategic plan. Audubon International recognizes the community as a Certified Audubon Sustainable Community once a significant portion of the plan is implemented.
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CASE STUDY
discussions, and community-wide surveys, combined with careful analysis of Eufaula’s resources. It addresses quality of government, land use planning, economic development, and quality of life issues and sets forth a plan-of-action to direct Eufaula’s future. “Our strategic planning process has given us a specific vision of the community we want to be in the year 2020,” states Mayor Jay Jaxon. “Through the process we have gained the commitment of many citizens to work in achieving that shared vision.” “Citizens from all walks of life, all financial levels, and all social and cultural strata have participated in the planning process,” says Dodson. “Everyone seems to realize that while we work to protect the environment of Eufaula, all citizens will benefit in the long-term as a result of these efforts.”
environmental
R. Dodson
e Future
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hen it comes to environmental education and participation in the ACSP for Schools, Hobe Sound Elementary School in Florida continues to be at the top of its class. Hobe Sound Elementary has developed an extensive environmental reference center and reading program to stimulate environmental learning. The reference center includes a dedicated area of the media center with environmental murals and kid-sized furniture that invite students to explore books, magazines, and videos on a variety of natural history and environmental themes.
The school’s Audubon Environmental Committee also developed an environmental reading program called GROW—Get Rooted on Wisdom. Students earn points for reading environmental books and filling out a GROW worksheet. Classes that read the most books each month win ice cream or popcorn parties, and all students earn environmental prizes at the end of the year based on how many books they read. In 2001/02, students read over 1,000 environmental books, top readers read over 25 books each, and the top class read over 300 environmental books. “The students are having fun Students at Hobe Sound record their obser- learning and there is vations about nature in an Earth Journal. great camaraderie
Shelly Foy
BRIEFS
stewardship news
Innovative Reading Program and Environmental Reference Center Accelerate Environmental Education
Hobe Sound Elementary School’s Environmental Reference Center
and friendship at Hobe Sound,” says Shelly Foy, Co-Chairman of the school’s Audubon Environmental Committee. “But most important, teachers who use a lot of our programs (GROW and Earth Journals) are showing some of the highest test scores in our school.” Funding support for the environmental reference center, GROW program, and other ACSP projects comes from the school’s yearly fundraiser, a dinner dance and silent auction. The event raises between $7,000 and $16,000 a year.
Need Environmental Information? Go to e-Source
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n-line educational information and resources are just a click away at e-Source, Audubon International’s newest website feature. Visitors to Audubon International’s website can go to e-Source for environmental information and commentary on a diverse array of topics related to water, wildlife, stewardship, and sustainability. “We sought to have one place where our members and people just surfing the web could find useful environmental information related to environmental stewardship and sustainability,” says Eric Dodson, Audubon International’s Director of MIS. “We hope e-Source will become onestop shopping for people seeking to help the environment.” E-Source currently carries information on the following topics: amphibian and bird conservation, biodiversity conservation and habitat management, invasive species, West 8
Nile Virus, water and energy conservation, watershed protection, waste reduction and recycling, green buildings, sustainability, and more. E-Source can be found at www.audubonintl.org/e-Source.
BRIEFS
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Links at Spanish Bay, CA
udubon International has recently begun to pilot-test two new programs to engage homeowners and resorts in active environmental stewardship. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) for Residential Communities is designed to get residential communities, gated communities, and the over 260,000 homeowners’ association communities in the U.S. involved by coordinating the efforts of homeowners who share a common landscape. The ACSP for Resorts has been created to engage the resort and hospitality industry beyond what’s available through our business and golf programs alone. “There are tens of thousands of residential communities across the U.S. which impact our watersheds and ecosystems in profound ways. Likewise, resorts are often located in spectacular natural areas where the impact of tourists can be dramatic,” states Kevin Fletcher, Director of Programs and Administration. “These programs will provide tools to help people take action and make a positive impact on the environment.” Both of these new pilot programs build from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System approach, yet both are tailored to address the environmental issues and meet the demands of these property types. Pilot sites agree to collaborate with Audubon International to test and strengthen educational materials. If you are a part of either a residential community or resort that may be interested in working with us over time, or even piloting our programs from the beginning, please contact Kevin Fletcher at kfletcher@audubonintl.org or (518)767-9051, ext 26.
Resorts and residential communities traditionally have gotten involved in the ACSP only if they had a golf course. Audubon International’s new programs will enable them to participate directly in environmental initiatives that are tailored to their needs.
Audubon International Launches Free Email Newsletter
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n an effort to expand its contact with organizational supporters, members, and those who share an interest in the quality of the environment, Audubon International has launched a free email newsletter. The newsletter will include program news, updates on projects, and environmental stewardship tips. Each “issue” will be brief and may be sent on a less than monthly basis. (We don’t want to clog up anyone’s email!) If you or someone you know would like to subscribe, please email us at: subscribe@audubonintl.org with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Once added, anyone can remove her/himself at any time by emailing us at subscribe@audubonintl.org with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Injured Wildlife Get a Second Chance
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J. Mackay
red Realbuto, Director of the Audubon Society of NYS, prepares to release a Brown Thrasher back to the wild after rehabilitating the injured bird. Since Realbuto earned his wildlife rehabilatator’s license in 2000, he has rehabilitated and released dozens of birds at Audubon International’s headquarters at Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary in upstate New York. 9
stewardship news
Residential Communities and Resorts to Pilot New Programs
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New Members Golf Program International Golf La Roqueta, Castellgali— Barcelona, Spain Millbrook Country Club Ltd, Queenstown, New Zealand Alabama Craft Farms Golf Course, Gulf Shores California Woodley Lakes Golf Course, Van Nuys Florida Crane Lakes Golf Course, Port Orange Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach Indiana Spring Meadow Golf Club, Middlebury New Jersey High Bridge Hills Golf Club, Highbridge New Mexico University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course, Albuquerque New York Nissequogue Golf Club, St. James Oregon Mallard Creek Golf Course, Lebanon Pennsylvania Elmhurst Country Club, Moscow Texas Northwood Club, Dallas
Business Program California Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe Florida University of Florida, Gainesville WCI—Coral Springs, Coral Springs WCI—Corporate - Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens Massachusetts Cisco Systems, Inc., Chelmsford Vermont Stratton Mountain Employee Housing, Stratton Mountain
Congratulations!
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he Town of North Hempstead on Long Island, New York, recently was awarded the 2002 New York State Mined Land Reclamation Award for reclaiming more than 400 acres of abandoned sand mine to create its first public golf course, Harbor Links. Throughout the design, development, and construction of Harbor Links, the town and its consultant, Greeman-Pederson, Inc., worked closely with Audubon International to develop a facility that would foster wildlife conservation, protect water quality, and minimize environmental impacts. The golf course was certified an Audubon Signature Sanctuary in 2001.
Harbor Links, NY
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program
School Program
Golf und Country Club Seddiner See, Wildenbruch, Germany Richmond County Country Club, Staten Island, NY
New Hampshire Mountain View Montessori School, Intervale
Backyard Program
New York Corcoran High School, Syracuse
Audubon Signature Program
Rosalyn Townsend, Jacksonville, FL
Virginia Richmond Montessori School, Richmond
Recertified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries
Backyard Program Florida Rosalyn Townsend, Jacksonville Nevada Benton Property, Las Vegas
Golf Program Lakeside Country Club, Houston, TX, certified since 1997 Valderrama Golf Club, Cadiz, Spain, certified since 1995
Pennsylvania John Clune, Pleasant Mount
Recently Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries
New Signature Members Gray’s Crossing, Truckee, CA
Recently Certified Signature Sanctuaries The Bridges Golf Club at Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, MS The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek, Johns Island, SC
Business Program Bakery Feeds, Inc. (Henderson), Henderson, KY, certified since 1998 Griffin Industries (Henderson), Henderson, KY, certified since 1998
Golf Program Belmont Country Club, Ashburn, VA Crane Creek Country Club, Boise, ID
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Recertified Signature Sanctuaries Top of the Rock Golf Course, Ridgedale, Missouri, certified since 1997
ACSSC
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System of Canada
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From the Martin House By Scott A. Martin
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Green Golf Classic Aids Environmental Stewardship One of our big projects this year was the inaugural Green Golf Classic, a golf tournament for “Golfers Protecting the Environment.” The intention of this tournament was to raise funds for the ACSSC, while introducing golfers to the principles and practices of environmentally sound golf course management. The Green Golf Classic was held September 4, at The Donalda Club in Don Mills, Ontario—a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and one of Toronto’s finest and best-known private golf clubs. The board of the Donalda Club graciously donated the course to us for the day, and supplied wonderful meals, hospitality, and amenities. This inaugural event saw every hole filled with foursomes. All parties had their photos taken with “Oscar” the Great Horned Owl, from the Mountsberg Conservation Area and Raptor Rehabilitation Centre in Campbellville, Ontario. Team photos are available for viewing on our web site (www.acssc.ca), and a digital slide show of the day was sent to all participants. While Oscar the owl was a treat, our most distinguished guest was PGA tour professional Mark O’Meara. O’Meara, who was in town for the Bell Canadian Open, took time out from
Scott Martin
ell, it certainly was a trying year for those striving to maintain green turf and robust blossoms. The drought conditions across most of Canada really helped stress the importance of solid water conservation and IPM programs. ACSSC programs and achievements continued to gain us greater profile and acclaim over the past year, and we were often asked by all levels of government to contribute to projects and policies regarding water quality management and conservation, and pesticide issues. It’s safe to say that with our co-operators we are achieving our mission of enhancing and protecting wildlife and their habitats and conserving natural resources through education and stewardship action.
Properly managed golf courses can provide valuable green spaces in urban areas, as evidenced by The Donalda Club in Don Mills, Ontario, host of the inaugural Green Golf Classic.
his preparations to visit us and chat with tournament participants. O’Meara knows the ACSP and other environmental practices well, as he was the designer of one of Ontario’s newest golf courses—The Mark O’Meara Course at Delta Grandview Resort, which is an ACSP member. Don Martin of Global Television’s “SportsLine” provided media coverage for the day and helped introduce O’Meara to participants. All participants agreed that golf course superintendent Paul Scenna had the course in super playing and environmental condition. One golfer was especially pleased, as he hit a hole-in-one on the par 4—267 yard eighth hole. All participants received prizes for their golfing prowess (or lack thereof), and two foursomes won for best scores on our environmental quiz. Once all was said and done, and paid for, the Green Golf Classic raised approximately $20,000 for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System of Canada. This will be used to provide more and better educational materials for our members. We also hope to use this money to help hire an additional staff at the ACSSC office, so we can better serve our members in a timely and efficient manner. The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), the corporate sponsor of our program for golf courses, was instrumental in bringing this day to fruition. The RCGA is the governing body of amateur golf in Canada and the operators of 11
the Bell Canadian Open and other major tournaments. Their experience in planning, publicizing and operating tournaments proved invaluable, and they also donated thousands of dollars of personnel time and in-kind materials. Our biggest thanks go out to Teri Yamada and Shannon Rattray, without whom this tournament could not have happened.
Membership News NEW GOLF MEMBERS Alberta Glencoe Golf & Curling Club, Calgary Lancaster Park Golf and Curling Club, Lancaster Park
British Columbia Glacier Greens Golf Club, Lazo Olympic View Golf Course, Victoria Quadra Links, Quathiaski Cove
Prince Edward Island Glasgow Hills Resort and Golf Club, Hunter River
Quebec Club de Golf Val-Morin, Val-Morin Golf des Iles Boucherville, Boucherville
NEW BACKYARD MEMBERS Ontario Mike House, Sudbury Sylvia King-Burritt, Owen Sound Gary Maycock, Paisley
ISSUE
in this
Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability
STEWARDSHIP news Audubon International publishes Stewardship News six times a year. Inquiries, contributions or letters to the editor should be addressed to: Editor, Stewardship News Audubon International 46 Rarick Road Selkirk, NY 12158 Or sent via e-mail to: jmackay@audubonintl.org Editor: Jean Mackay, Director of Educational Services Contributors: Jennifer Batza, Ronald Dodson, Kevin Fletcher, Shelly Foy, Mary Jack, Jean Mackay, Scott Martin Design and Printing: Benchemark Printing, Schenectady, NY
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ind out what environmental sustainability means and learn how Audubon International is taking its members from individual stewardship action to sustainable community initiatives in this issue.
Audubon International is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and the environment through research, education, and conservation assistance. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System(ACSS) and the Audubon Signature Program provide environmental education and technical assistance to facilitate voluntary environmental stewardship on private and public lands. Funding is provided by memberships, donations, and program sponsorship. The ACSS Golf Program is sponsored by The United States Golf Association. This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.
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Online educational information and resources on a diverse array of environmental topics are now available from Audubon International at www.audubonintl.org/e-source.
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Change of Address or Contact Person? Please notify us so we can keep you up to date! Call (518) 767-9051, ext. 12 or E-mail jbatza@audubonintl.org
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